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Linking bioclimatic theory and environmental performance in its climatic and cultural context

an analysis into the tropical highrises of Ken Yeang


Puteri Shireen Jahnkassim, PhD (1) Kenneth Ip, PhD (2)
(1) Department of Building Technology and Engineering
Kuliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design International Islamic University Malaysia puterishr@iiu.edu.my (2) School of the Environment, University of Brighton, United Kingdom K.Ip@bton.ac.uk

Aims of study
an analysis of the bioclimatic theories by Malaysian architect Ken Yeang. Focusing on case studies representing the three main phases of Yeangs work analysed through simulation and post occupancy studies. an analysis of selected key bioclimatic features as forwarded in the theories; An analysis of bioclimatic highrise forms and its climatic performance under the Malaysian climate; The aim is to link theory and performance of the highrises and identify any underlying conflicts between the two; To attempt to reconcile theory and performance under its climatic and cultural context

Development of theories
The idea of the environmental filter
a general armature for design (1983)

The tropical verandah city (1985)


Kuala Lumpur as a tropical urban garden. a city connected by a system of landscaping and verandah-ways. The use of multiple variations of this verandah-way system a form capable of variations and permutations that would not only serve to connect spaces between buildings but to be integrated as recessed elements into buildings.

Tropical urban regionalism(1987) developed from his theories of the critical vernacular The tropical skyscraper (1990) The green and ecological skyscraper ( 1999 -.)

To identify the key bioclimatic features To select appropriate case studies to represent the different phases in the evolution of his theories and designs

To evaluate the energy performances of selecyed bioclimatic features based on his theories and writings

To evaluate the overall performance of the bioclimatic envelopes in terms of energy use, interaction with daylight and heat gain and occupant assessment of internal environments under the Malaysian climate

To compare Yeangs designs with the performances of several highrises by his contemporaries under the tropical context.

To compare with performances of the generic models

Comparison and discussion

Richards (1993) and defines that Yeangs designs as evolving from three major phases : Series 1 (1983 1989) - primary-level design experiments projects which had examined one big idea in a single building; Series 2 (1989 1992) projects which had integrated various ideas and concentrated on the issues of tropical and regional aesthetics;

Series 3 (1992 1996) - projects which had focused on the bioclimatic skyscraper within the context of the ecological agenda.

Powell (1999) also identifies three similar phases in both theory and design in his seminal book Rethinking the Skyscraper the complete architecture of Ken Yeang :
CLIMATIC PHASE

The climatic phase which was based on intuitive climatic principles and was focused on the idea of the environmental filter;
REGIONALIST PHASE

The regionalist phase which was based on a search for a distinctive regional language within the tropical Asian context;
BIOCLIMATIC/ECOLOGICAL PHASE

The bioclimatic/ecological phase which was directed towards a more global context and focused on the environmental agenda.

The Roof-Roof House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1985)

Plaza Atrium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1984)

THE CLIMATIC PHASE

MBf Tower, Penang/Hi-techniaga tower,Malaysia (1994)

THE REGIONALIST PHASE

The EDITT Tower proposal, Singapore (2000), Elephant and Castle Towers, London (2000)

THE BIOCLIMATIC / ECOLOGICAL PHASE

The Plaza IBM, Kuala Lumpur (1984-1987) representing the climatic phase

CASE STUDY 1

The Menara Mesiniaga, Kuala Lumpur (1989-1992) representing the regionalist phase

CASE STUDY 2

The Menara UMNO, Penang (1996-1998) representing the bioclimatic/ecological phase

CASE STUDY 3

An analysis of key bioclimatic features under the Malaysia climate

Key bioclimatic features


Service core positioning; Skycourts and balconies; External shading (vertical); Vertical landscaping ( vegetation on facade); Naturally ventilated ground floor Roof as fifth facade

Tested through extensive simulation study using generic and bioclimatic/as designed models

METHODOLOGY The Simulation Process


Building model Weather data Construction data Operating schedules APACHE Heat Gain

APACHE Simulation Dynamic Thermal Simulation

Shadow analysis

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES

Assessing the impact of core-positioning - positioning of the core areas ( Plaza IBM)

GENERIC

CORE EAST

CORE WEST

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES Plaza IBM energy and cooling load impact of core placement options
Plaza IBM - Impact of core placement 300 250 Cooling Total

283.8 261.1 209.4 259.6 253.1

246.1

Kwh/m.sq./yr

200 150 100 50 0 Typical

186.7

193.0

178.8

170.8

core-east

core-west
model

Double sided Double sided 1 2

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES

The impact of balconies and skycourts


N N a b al c o ni e s N

Center-core

Double-sided core

with balconies

Plaza IBM (generic studies) Balcony option


N

Core east

Core placement

with skycourts

Menara Mesiniaga Skycourt options (as designed)

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES

Small balconies balconies

Fig. 5.36.a Plaza IBM - 11th floor plan showing the location of the balconies on the eastern and western side of the tower

Fig.5.36b. Plaza IBM - Detail of balconies (as designed) located on east and west sides

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES Mesiniaga Cooling and total energy impact of skycourts


Mesiniaga - Impact of skycourts

cooling total

300.0 250.0

280.8 263.4 208.6 265.1

kwh/m.sq./yr

200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0 typical

185.7

190.1

core placement model

skycourt

The impact of shading systems


Menara UMNO (generic) shading system

Generic

Core - East

With shading

Plaza IBM (generic)

Generic

Double sided

With overhangs

Fig.5.53. Plaza IBM (generic studies) Impact of shading

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES The impact of shading ( vertical) Mesiniaga as designed

Fig. 5.62a. Mesiniaga Shading option

Fig.5.62b. Mesiniaga Shading as obstructions

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES Plaza IBM Impact of vertical shading


Plaza IBM (generic model) - impact of vertical shading
cooling

300.0 250.0 209.4 200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0

283.8 253.1

total

224.1 178.8 147.5

typical

double sided

with shading

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES

Mesiniaga ( shading) Impact on peak cooling demand


Mesiniaga(peak demand) - Impact of shading
600.0 500.0 400.0 540.4 494.6 413.9

kw

300.0 200.0 100.0 0.0 generic without shading with shading

model

BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES PLAZA IBM (generic) Impact of vegetation


Plaza IBM ( generic model) - impact of balconies and vegetation
cooling

300.0 250.0

283.8 253.1 209.4

total

242.8

kwh/m.sq./yr

200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0 typical

178.8

169.5

double sided model

balc + vegetation

Summary of energy performance results bioclimatic features


Summary of performance of bioclimatic features ( as designed)

PV roofs vegetation ground floor skycourt core shading


-2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%

UMNO
Mesiniaga

IBM

features

14%

16%

percentage reduction in energy use

Conflicts between theory and performance

Bioclimatic features
Generally all features have energy saving impact under the tropical climate Core positioning theory and performance Skycourts - Mesiniaga theory and performance

Impact of bioclimatic forms


Comparison between overall forms and generic forms The net energy effect - in terms of overall performance of the bioclimatic envelope or form - representative of the interaction between the control of heat gain and provision of usable daylight. Comparing the bioclimatic form refers to the highrise form is as designed by Yeang with the generic form (simplified model with similar treated floor area and a central core). In the past, generic forms (with central cores) have been used as standard models for benchmarking purposes ( sometimes called the base-case ) ; Part of architects thinking process regionalising the modern highrise typology

Assessment of the impact of bioclimatic forms

BIO-CLIMATIC DESIGN

GENERIC or BASE CASE

BIOCLIMATIC FORMS Optimisation process of the bioclimatic ( design) and generic forms
UMNO(design) - Variation in cooling and total energy use with daylight 260
240

kwh/m.sq./yr

220 200 180 160 140 120 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
cooling total

window-to-wall ratio

Overall performances of bioclimatic forms a summary of the generic, bioclimatic performances


Overall envelope performance summary
Bioclimatic (optimised) Generic (optimised)

Generic

UMNO
(1994-1998) 208.4 232.6 297.2

Generic Bioclimatic (optimised) (optimised)

Generic

Mesiniaga
204.1 (1989-1992) 222.0 283.0

Generic Bioclimatic (optimised) (optimised)

Generic

IBM
(1984-1987) 210.6 214.9 283.8

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

290

300

Kwh/m.sq./yr.

Conflicts between bioclimatic theory and performance

Mesiniaga Mesiniagas envelope not able to outperform that of its generic counterpart affected by the spiralling incisions made into its basic form (compared to a more efficient cylindrical formthe consequent high conduction gains due to an increase in its surface-to-volume ratio) For an air-conditioned building in the tropics, ( as compared to a naturally ventilated building) the compactness of form determines overall exposure to heat gains while allowing perimeter areas to be lit by usable daylight.

Yeangs regionalist agenda during this period has interfered with his bioclimatic or environmental one.

Mesiniaga regional achievement


awarded the Aga Khan award in 1995 in recognition to the contribution to the development of regional architecture in Eastern societies. : for having boldly designed a meaningful tall building in a tropical climate. .Eschewing the box-like curtain-wall structures so common in corporate office buildings, this project promotes a new language that punches out parts of the structure and wraps a spiralling series of interactive open gardens around the main core of the building. . It raises the kind of architectural debate in which the corporate world generally, and the Muslim world, more specifically, can fruitfully engage.

(Masters Jurys comments, Aga Khan award for architecture 1995)

Excerpt from Hawkes The Environmental tradition

He is thoroughly conscious of the loose fit, that architects know only too well, between form and performance; a space in which cultural pressures can produce strange distortions. (Maxwell, 2000)

Likewise, Mesiniagas performance can be explained as related to the extent of this distortion which causes a compromise in climatic terms and can be related to the articulation of an architectural form that would be significant in representing its cultural context.

Richards (1993) points to Mesiniagas success in terms of achieving such a regionalist form: The resultant building - within the philosophical framework of modern architecture which is inflected with appropriate regional characteristics of climate and culture produces a far-Eastern hybrid form.

An evaluation at two levels i.e. on one level as a critique of homogenous high- rise typeforms within a rapidly modernising context and on another level in relation to the necessity of icons as symbols of progress in a rapidly developing country in the tropical Asian context.

An analysis against the background of developments in a post-independent nation


Throughout the post-independent years of 1960-2000, there have been various approaches to highrise regionalism with varying emphasis on the climatic and iconic. His design is compared in terms of both climatic performance and regionalist intentions to four other buildings :

State Mortgage Bank by Geoffrey Bawa ( Sri Lanka) Esso tower ( David Russell) ( Bangkok) Telekom Tower ( Hijjas Kasturi_ ( Kuala Lumpur) Petronas Towers ( Cessar Pelli) ( Kuala Lumpur)

Balfour (1999) highlights The evolution of Yeangs architecture is embedded in the emergence of Malaysia as a distinct culture. One hundred years made the task of establishing the cultural voice of Malaysia after colonisation more complex The restoration of a regional and national identity had specific targets: how to inflect architecture with modernist reason while detaching it from Europes tendency for symbolic abstraction; how to frame an architectural language which, while showing an understanding of traditional values, would express the economic ambitions of the new nation.

Kusno (2000) observes on the highrise typeform: .. This represents a process of architectural localisation - a cultural negotiation of the authority of the international style .The technique of incorporating climatic modifiers into what is essentially a modernist structure presupposes an ultimate rejoining of the tropical with the modern and the re-identification of the latter to the former.

Comparative Analysis (1960s 1990s) Regionalist highrise forms

Regional

Generic

Mortgage Bank

ESSO

Telekom

Petronas

Yeangs compromise in terms of performance in relation to regionalist approaches to the highrise


Yeang's position within the continuum of regionalist positions 50% 45% 40% 35% 30%

43%

26%

25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Bawa Russell Yeang Kasturi Petronas

9% 4% 1%

regional 'positions'

CONCLUSIONS
highlight certain conflicts between Yeangs bioclimatic theories and the performances of his designs. Yeang should be evaluated not only in bioclimatic terms but critical regionalist terms; Mesiniaga may be regarded as a point of maximum tension between two agendas; Its level of compromise is argued as representative of Yeangs critical regionalist position. Yeangs achievement can be argued achieving a critical regionalist position that results in a minimum compromise to attain a culturally differentiated form symbolic significance under its particular cultural context; Can be argued as a position of equipoise or balanced tension between two competing agendas in a developing Asian nation

Acknowledgements
Professor David Robson, School of Architecture and Design, University of Brighton; Professor Dean Hawkes, Cardiff University, United Kingdom

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